Here is the second part of our celebration of the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill music scene. Again, the list is not ranked. For part one, check here.
The Eye-Opener at BCHQ - August 2, 2008
A few of BCHQ's board members work on a project to promote transgender awareness across the globe, specifically focusing on the Hijra communities in India. To help the cause locally, they put together a day-long festival in a sticky August day that included a bevvy of local artists (Mount Moriah, Des Ark, Megafaun, Embarrassing Fruits, etc.) and a vegan brunch. But the best moment of the day came at the end when the Mountain Goats' John Darnielle gave the best endorsement ever of his current hometown. His numbers might be a little bit off, but someone in Durham needs to hire him to promote the city.
NC Rocks for Change - November 1, 2008
After the Arcade Fire/Superchunk show, president-elect Barack Obama treated Triangle residents to another feast of music. This one began at 8 a.m. and continued into the afternoon and celebrated lots of local music. In addition to classic favorites like I Was Totally Destroying, Bowerbirds and Megafaun, the Mac McCaughan-curated event included appearances by the dB's, a solo set from the Rosebuds' Ivan Howard, two sets from the Merge owner himself (one as Portastatic, the other an acoustic set from Superchunk) and an appearance by Mr. Love and Justice, Billy Bragg. All definitive proof that musicians still care about the state of the world, and it's also like an endorsement of the local music scene straight from the president himself.
Troika Music Festival - November 6-8, 2008
The ultimate celebration of local music, Troika made up for a messy 2007 with an incredible festival in 2008. Tons of talented local bands (and Kimya Dawson) filled up some of Durham's best venues. Plus, the festival marked...
The Opening of Pinhook
Nothing like a new bar/venue to prove the scene is alive and kicking.
Butterflies & the Physics of Meaning at Duke Coffeehouse - November 21, 2008
After a weaker spring semester, the Duke Coffeehouse closed for renovations in the fall semester. When it reopened in Novemeber, it had a stellar lineup, with one its first shows billing Jonathan Meiburg, Aimee from Des Ark and Cary's the Tourist. But it was a release party from this pair of Trekky Records bands that packed the Coffeehouse. Major points to the Physics of Meaning who had a string section and chorus to augment their already lush sound.
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